The Netherlands beat titleholders France to stay perfect in Rotterdam, closing the main round in style with a 26:23 victory in a packed Ahoy Arena. This win secured a perfect record and saw the Dutch march into the quarter-finals with full confidence, where they are due to meet Hungary.

Main Round, Group III
France vs Netherlands 23:26 (13:14)

It was a blistering opening for the co-hosts in a roaring, sold-out Ahoy Arena. The Netherlands jumped to a quick 2:0 after Yara ten Holte's save and a string of French misfires. Team captain Tamara Horacek finally got France on the board, but the rest of the squad couldn’t find their finishing touch, forcing Sébastien Gardillou into a time-out as early as the fifth minute with his team trailing 1:4.

It could have spiralled even further for the defending champions if Hatadou Sako hadn’t stepped into Ten Holte’s rhythm. By the 15-minute mark, she had already stopped six shots at a sharp 43%, keeping France within reach. Backed by thunderous home support, the Dutch pushed the gap to four goals (9:5), but France refused to fold and narrowed it down to three.

They even tried to come closer by using an extra attacking player, but playing without a goalkeeper backfired instantly, as the Netherlands punished the empty net to restore a four-goal cushion.

France tightened their defence, reading the hosts well and opening the runway for Suzanne Wajoka to strike on the fast break, cutting the gap to 9:11 as the clock hit 20 minutes. Still, sloppy passing continued to haunt them. The Netherlands rebuilt the +4, but despite France struggling to find fluency in attack, Hatadou Sako kept dragging her team forward with save after save, allowing the title holders to go into the break trailing by just one at 13:14.

As the second half settled in, France finally levelled through Clarisse Mairot, but Romée Maarschalkerweerd and Bo van Wetering reignited the Dutch run after a five-minute scoring drought on both sides, setting an 18:15 lead. Yet back-to-back suspensions stalled the Dutch rhythm, and France climbed back from the seven-metre line, only to stumble again midway through the half with turnovers that killed their momentum.

The Netherlands happily took what they were offered and pushed ahead to 20:17, entering the final ten minutes at 22:18 as France hit 14 turnovers. France kept rotating, searching for something to flip the rhythm, but Ten Holte kept delivering to push her side to 24:19. The hummel Player of the Match finished with 14 saves at 40% save efficiency.

But for France, it was still far from over. With a deep 5-1, they pushed the Dutch to the limit. Nina Dury sparked a flicker of hope at 22:25, then stole the ball and sprinted toward goal, only to be stopped at the last moment. Their next attack faltered too, and with that, the Netherlands could finally breathe, knowing they had protected their perfect run.

Bo van Wetering and Romée Maarschalkerweerd led the Dutch pace with five goals each, while Angela Malestein and Dione Housheer added four. Tamara Horacek once again stood tallest for France, netting seven.

Next on the menu for both teams are the quarter-finals in the Ahoy Arena. The Netherlands, as group winners, will face Hungary, while second-placed France prepare for a heavyweight duel with Denmark.

hummel Player of the Match: Yara Ten Holte (Netherlands)